The he-goat, often referred to simply as a "goat" in the Bible, holds significant symbolic and practical roles throughout the Scriptures. In biblical times, goats were common livestock, valued for their milk, meat, and hair. However, the he-goat also carries deeper symbolic meanings, often associated with leadership, sin, and judgment.

Symbolism and Representation

1. Leadership and Strength: In the book of Daniel, the he-goat is used symbolically to represent the kingdom of Greece and its powerful leader, Alexander the Great. Daniel 8:5-8 describes a vision of a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes, which charges across the earth without touching the ground, symbolizing swift conquest. The horn is broken, and four others arise, representing the division of Alexander's empire. This imagery underscores the he-goat's association with strength and dominance.

2. Sin and Judgment: The he-goat is also linked to sin and judgment, particularly in the context of the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:7-10 describes the ritual involving two goats: one for the LORD and the other as the scapegoat. The scapegoat, or "Azazel," is sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the sins of the people away. This ritual highlights the he-goat's role in the atonement process and the removal of sin.

3. Separation of the Righteous and the Wicked: In the New Testament, Jesus uses the imagery of goats to illustrate the final judgment. In Matthew 25:31-33 , He describes the Son of Man separating the nations as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep, representing the righteous, are placed on His right, while the goats, symbolizing the wicked, are placed on His left. This parable emphasizes the he-goat's representation of those who are not aligned with God's will.

Practical Uses

1. Sacrificial Offerings: Goats were commonly used in sacrificial offerings, as outlined in the Mosaic Law. Leviticus 4:23-24 specifies the use of a male goat as a sin offering for a leader who sins unintentionally. The he-goat's role in sacrifices underscores its importance in the religious life of Israel, serving as a means of atonement and reconciliation with God.

2. Economic Value: Beyond their religious significance, he-goats were economically valuable. Proverbs 27:26-27 highlights the practical benefits of goats, noting that "the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you, your household, and your maidservants." This passage reflects the integral role of goats in the agrarian society of ancient Israel.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, goats were a common sight and an essential part of daily life. Their adaptability to various climates and terrains made them a reliable source of sustenance. The biblical portrayal of he-goats reflects both their practical importance and their symbolic roles in conveying spiritual truths. The he-goat's presence in Scripture serves as a reminder of the multifaceted ways God communicates His messages through creation and history.5131. tragos -- a male goat
... a male goat. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: tragos Phonetic Spelling:
(trag'-os) Short Definition: a he-goat Definition: a he-goat. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5131.htm - 6k

2056. eriphos -- a young goat
... Cognate: 2056 (a noun) -- a goat; "a kid, he-goat" (); (figuratively) any person
to Christ, especially the unredeemed who are rebellious against God . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2056.htm - 6k

8495. tayish -- male goat
... he-goat. From an unused root meaning to butt; a buck or he-goat (as given to butting) --
he goat. 8494, 8495. tayish. 8496 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8495.htm - 5k

6841. tsephir -- male goat
... he-goat. (Aramaic) corresponding to tsaphiyr; a he-goat -- he (goat). see HEBREW
tsaphiyr. 6840, 6841. tsephir. 6842 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6841.htm - 6k

6260. attud -- male goat
... Word Origin from athod Definition male goat NASB Word Usage goats (6),
leaders (1), male goats (22). chief one, he goat, ram. Or ...
/hebrew/6260.htm - 6k

6842. tsaphir -- male goat
... he goat. From tsaphar; a male goat (as prancing) -- (he) goat. see HEBREW
tsaphar. 6841, 6842. tsaphir. 6843 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6842.htm - 6k

8163. sa'iyr -- hairy
... devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr Or sabir {saw-eer'}; from sa'ar; shaggy; as
noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun -- devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr. ...
/hebrew/8163.htm - 5k

Alexander.
... The ensign of Macedon was a he-goat, the rough goat that Daniel had seen in his
vision; and the time was come for the fall of the Ram of Persia. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xv alexander.htm

Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and his Successors and How their ...
... with many horns growing out of his head, and that the last was higher than the rest:
that after this he looked to the west, and saw a he-goat carried through ...
/.../the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 concerning nebuchadnezzar and.htm

Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... sacrifice was foreshadowed in this, that the high-priest of the Old Law, once a
year, entered into the Holy of Holies with the blood of a he-goat and a calf ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm

John Calls Jesus a "Lamb. " Why Does He Name this Animal Specially ...
... the pigeon. And of the walking animals these are the three kinds"bullock,
ox, calf; ram, sheep, lamb; he-goat, goat, kid. Of the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/32 john calls jesus a.htm

What Constantine the Great Effected About the Oak in Mamre; He ...
... Here some prayed to the God of all; some called upon the angels, poured out wine,
burnt incense, or offered an ox, or he-goat, a sheep, or a cock. ...
/.../chapter iv what constantine the great.htm

Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ...
... Objection 3: Further, in the sin-offerings of the Old Law, a he-goat was mostly
offered for the sin of a prince, a she-goat for the sin of some private ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of christs.htm

Joseph Sold as a Slave by his Brothers
... Then his brothers took Joseph's long coat, killed a he-goat, dipped the coat in
the blood, and brought it to their father, and said, "We found this; see ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/joseph sold as a slave.htm

He Further Shows that the Pretemporal Generation of the Son is not ...
... fourteenth day of the moon's course, the sacrifices of purification, the observation
of the lepers, the ram, the calf, the heifer, the scapegoat, the he-goat. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 he further shows.htm

Separation to God.
... additional offering was of two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs, with their meat
and drink-offerings, for a burnt-offering, while one he-goat sufficed for a ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Demonstration v. --Of Wars.
... And they could not stand before him, until the he-goat came from the west and smote
the ram and broke his horns and humbled the ram completely. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration v of wars.htm

He-goat (23 Occurrences)
He-goat. Heglam, He-goat. He-goats . Multi-Version Concordance
He-goat (23 Occurrences). Genesis 37:31 And they took ...
/h/he-goat.htm - 13k

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)
... offering, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah, with the meal-offering thereof, and the
drink-offering thereof, according to the ordinance, and one he-goat for a sin ...
/d/drink-offering.htm - 18k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... This Hebrew word is also used for the he-goat (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 4:23;
Numbers 28:15), and to denote a kid (Genesis 38:17, 20). ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

Addition (112 Occurrences)
... Numbers 28:15 And one he-goat for a sin-offering to the Lord; it is to be offered
in addition to the regular burned offering and its drink offering. (BBE NAS). ...
/a/addition.htm - 37k

Satyr
... sat'-er, sa'-ter (sa`ir, literally "he-goat"; sa`ir, "hairy" (Genesis 27:11, of
Esau), and Arabic sha'r, "hair"; plural se`irim): For se`irim in Leviticus 17:7 ...
/s/satyr.htm - 12k

Regular (95 Occurrences)
... (BBE NIV). Numbers 28:15 And one he-goat for a sin-offering to the Lord; it is to
be offered in addition to the regular burned offering and its drink offering. ...
/r/regular.htm - 37k

Sin-offering (115 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 9:3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye
a he-goat for a sin-offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without ...
/s/sin-offering.htm - 38k

Meal-offering (120 Occurrences)
... offering, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah, with the meal-offering thereof, and the
drink-offering thereof, according to the ordinance, and one he-goat for a sin ...
/m/meal-offering.htm - 40k

Gabriel (5 Occurrences)
... Champion of God, used as a proper name to designate the angel who was sent to Daniel
(8:16) to explain the vision of the ram and the he-goat, and to ...
/g/gabriel.htm - 9k

Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:19 and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering,
and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings. ...
/d/drink-offerings.htm - 18k

Who was Samson in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of Azazel / the scapegoat? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Esau in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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